Word Origin & History

forego O.E. forgan "go away, pass over, leave undone," from for- "away" + gan "go." Usually in foregone conclusion, which was popularized in Shakespeare's "Othello" [III.iii], but his sense was not necessarily the main modern one of "a decision already formed before the case is argued." Related: Foregoing; foregone. The similar foredone is now archaic, replaced by done for.